Eye-protector.



PATENTED MAY 21, 1997.

ig. l

E. VERDBAU. EYE PROTECTOR.

APPLIUATION FILED 23.12. 1907,

v /NVENro/ v Emile @dean wmf@ UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

EMILE vERDEAU, or NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIGNoE To CRYDEE a co., or NEW YORK, N. Y.`

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented May 21, 1907.

Application filed February 12,1907. Serial No- 357,042.

To all, whom it nwtyeoncern:

Beit known that I, EMILE VERDEAU, a

' Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Eye-Protector, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description;

My invention relates to eye protectors, mymore particular object being t provide a form of mask suitable for use by chauffeurs and drivers of vehicles, the construction being such as to prevent the collection of snow, sleet, frost or Water from gathering upon certain parts of themask so as to obstruct the vision.

My invention further relates to means for enabling the eye of the operator to Work 11nder optical conditions favorable to good vision.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the ligures.

Figure l is a lfront elevation of my improved eye-protector showing the convex metallic shields provided withl horizontal slots throughv which the light passes to the operators eyes; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section through one of the eye shields and showing the manner in which it is connected with the mask.-

The mask 4 is made of leather or other soft material, andis' provided with a nose piece 5 preferably of the same material. Two conveX shields 6 are each of a general oval lconformity', and provided with a long and narrow slot 7. Each shield 6 is provided adjacent to its edge with small holes 8 in order to enable it to be stitched directly to the mask 4. A lining 9 is likewise stitched to the mask and to the shield 6, as indicated in Fig.

3. The lining 9 is of annular form, and its inner edge is bent backwardly and bent under, being thus brought parallel with the adjacent outer edge of the shield. By this arrangement the lining 9 serves as a soft pad entirely encircling the operators eye, and also aords a means Vwhereby'the shield is firmly connected with the mask.

A. strap 10 is provided with an adjustable clasp 1l whereby the length of the strap may belvaried at will for the purpose of adjusting the eye protector.

The shields 6 being of metal are, of course,

opaque so that no light can reach the o' erators eyes except such as passes throug the horizontal slots 7. These slots may. each be from an inch `and a half to` two inches in length, and may be of a width of approximately one-fortieth of an inch.

I have found that when transparent parts are used, these parts become practically useless in bad Weather, for the reason that the moisture of condensation collects upon them in the shape of frost, snow or dew, and effectively prevents the operator from seeing.- This result can not happen with my construction, for the reason that the slots 7 are easily kept o en and the operator can always see throng an open slot. If a snow flake or rain drop should happen to lodge in the slot,

the operator can easily remove it by a whisk' of his finger. If, however7 the shield 6 be polished, as is usually the case, no snow,

sleet or raindeposit is apt to form-in such position as to impair the usefulness of the device. I nd that the range of vision attained in the use of this device is very great. The great length of the slot and its curvature, together with the fact that the shields are close to the eyes, give the operator an .excellent iield of vision.- Moreover, the aggregate amount of light entering the eye being comparatively small, the eye adjusts itseli? to its environment, and is thus enabled to make the best use of such light as is ,able to enter.

The net result is that in actual factice I have found that eye' protectors o the kind described are very satisfactory.

The strap 10 may-be of any flexible or elastic material, eferably laminated rubber covered with extensible cloth. The shields 6 are preferably made vof aluminium. Ido not limit mvself, however, to any particular material for the construction of any IOO having a horizontal slot through Which an observer may see. l

2. An eye protector comprising a mask portion of leather or other soft material, in combination with opaque shields provided 'with horizontal slots through which' the ob- 3. An eye protector comprising a 'mask' portion, metallic shields connected therewith and provided with slots through which an observer may see, and annular linin 4. Asan article of manufacture, a metalylic shield having a general oval form and 15 made convex, said shield being provided with a longitudinal slot,'1ong as compared with its Width and through Which an operav tor may see.

In testimony whereof I have signed my zo name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EMILE VERDEAU. Witnesses:

WALTON HARRISON, EVERARD B. MARSHALL. 

